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Sharing resources with clients

Okay, what’s going on here?!!! Well, first I’ll tell you where I am. I’m in my client’s closet building outfits and coming up with lists for future shopping plans. Why am I wearing a white towel? Funny you should ask!

There is a reason!

I’ve discovered a shop in Petaluma called E=ethical clothing. They carry a line of pants out of Canada called Raffinalla. They come in all kinds of colors and if they don’t have the color you want in stock, they’ll order it for you. They have a wand of swatches so you can see what’s available.

The great thing about them is their fabulous slim fit and the flat panel across the tummy area. They’re kind of a miracle pant. You can wear them casually or they could be a work pant for many job sites. They pull-up and whatever you wear over them, you’ll never see a zipper, button, or waistband poking through. They are pocket-free both front and back so you get the cleanest line possible. No logos either.

I had a feeling my client would like them so I wore them to our appointment. Summer pants aren’t easy to find for her. I also brought with me a pair of Chico summer jeans that I’d ordered and had just received in the mail the day before. I hadn’t even opened the package yet.

Wearing something I know my client will like–the Raffinalla pant

I was eager to share some resources with this out-of-town client. The summer season is a lot harder for her than the winter one. Armani wool trousers are more her thing. I can shop for those without her being with me and they’ll work every time. They suit her business life really well. More causal pants aren’t as easy. Jeans aren’t always friendly, either.

I opened the Chico’s bag and pulled out the So-Slimming crop pant and she tried those on. If you saw her and you saw me standing next to her you’d be as surprised as I was that we could wear the same pant. I don’t have much of a defined waistline; she does. But this particular Chico’s pant in size 0.5 fit her just fine.

Turns out the pant I rode into town in fit her as well! She gave me the white towel while I slipped out of the Raffinalla pant. She tried them on and loved them! I got on the phone immediately and called the store in Petaluma and ordered her a pair. They weren’t in stock. I promised to follow up on the order and be sure it got to her. I’m so glad this resource is being carried over from last year when I bought my pair. It’s a real find.

After lunch we went down to the Chico’s store near her to try and nail the jean she’d tried on at her house. I wanted her to have it in both white and taupe, just like I’d purchased.

It was dicey. The white one was sold out but they located the taupe one and it would come in the mail in a week or so. Whew!

Success all over the place! We were feeling pretty smug and proud of ourselves! This could have been a drawn out affair but while we weren’t even trying, she’d gotten some summer pant staples. Woo hoo! I made several head-to-toe outfits for her for each of those pants because they would be here in a jiffy. I wrote the outfits all out for her on her Wardrobe Charts and put them in her Wardrobe Binder. She was all set for a summer of fun.

But unfortunately, a sad face showed up in my email a week or so later. The taupe jean was actually sold out. She shared with me the apologetic email she’d received from Chico’s. I was as broken hearted as she was! Taupe is her favorite color in the world. We laugh about it a lot but it’s true. Forget about turquoise, coral, pink, or cobalt blue. Give this woman taupe and she’s happy, happy, happy.

So I did what you might have done. I packaged up my taupe jean and mailed them to her. I had the white ones and they were enough. I couldn’t bear the thought that she wouldn’t have that taupe jean to wear this summer. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. I’d feel like I’d taken candy from a baby.

I knew she’d object to my gesture but I held a tough line with her. I insisted they were meant for her and then insisted she accept them and we’d never speak about it again. She got me back though. She sent me a generous check for them and included a threat that I accept the check. Only then would we never speak about it again. I broke down and accepted.

Every time I wear my white pants now, I’m thinking of her–both the jean and the Raffinalla. When things work out, it makes me so very happy!